“We weren’t trying to provoke anybody”: Kirk Hammett on why he was surprised by the reaction to Metallica’s evolution on Ride The Lightning
“It made sense to try weird new things out – why not?”
Kirk Hammett recently reflected on Metallica‘s evolution with their second album Ride the Lightning and how the public’s reception to it took him by surprise.
Released in 1984, Ride the Lightning marked a significant departure from the band’s thrash metal debut Kill ‘Em All, featuring new elements like acoustic intros and more complex harmonies and lyrics.
Discussing the creative process behind their sophomore record in a chat with Metal Hammer, Hammett says that the band’s intention at the time was to push boundaries and explore their sound, not to alienate fans.
Of the opening track Fight Fire With Fire, the guitarist reveals that the “main riff” was already around on Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All tour and that the intro was something bassist Cliff Burton played frequently enough.
“I remember hearing it on a riff tape, so the seeds were around even then,” Hammett recalls. “The acoustic intro was something that Cliff would play on the acoustic guitar all the time – and I mean all the fucking time! Ha ha ha!”
He adds that the members were simply following their creative instincts, saying, “We weren’t trying to provoke anybody with that intro – it was a natural thing.”
“I didn’t see any limitations to what we wanted to do. The possibilities were sky high. And you have to understand, we were creating our own playing field here. We were going to places that no one else had gone before, and we were happy going there. It made sense to try weird new things out – why not?”
Also in the chat, Hammett says that while he did feel a lot of “guilt” for leaving his first band Exodus to join Metallica, the decision was ultimately the right one.
“I have known [Exodus drummer] Tom Hunting since I was 16 years old, I’ve known [Exodus guitarist] Gary Holt since I was 17. We’re all close to this day, but there was a lot of guilt there for a while. A little bit of remorse. But I really felt that Metallica was my calling,” says the musician. “I feel more comfortable playing in Metallica than I ever did in Exodus, so go figure.”
